Tag: Culture

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Meet Your Therapist: Clinician Spotlight Series – Vy

What are one or two interventions that you enjoy using and have found to be supportive to clients?   

I mainly draw from attachment theory, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. Whether working with individuals or couples, this might look like us getting curious together about how past relationships show up in your life today, slowing down to really notice and work through your emotions, focusing on small and meaningful steps toward the changes you want, and exploring new ways of telling your story that feel more authentic and empowering. As a relational therapist, I also believe that the relationship clients and therapist build together to be the catalyst for change. We can sit in the therapy room all day and use the most advanced interventions, but nothing is as healing as the relationship. I focus on creating a warm, collaborative, and culturally attuned space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood, and the therapeutic relationship itself becomes a source of insight, growth, and lasting change. 

What are your favorite clients to work with (populations of special interest)?   

I provide culturally affirming therapy for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, offering a safe, supportive space where one’s identities, experiences, and cultural background are honored. I specialize in helping clients navigate cultural and systemic challenges, family expectations, and the complex balance of multiple identities while staying authentic to themselves. I also support children of immigrants, first-generation adults, multicultural, and multiracial clients through major life transitions, relationships, or in exploring identity, helping clients process their experiences, embrace their roots, and find their voice. My goal is to provide therapy that is inclusive, collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to the unique needs of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. 

What inspired you to become a therapist? 

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably realized how challenging it can be to find a BIPOC, Asian American, and/or neurodivergent therapist. Experiencing this as a client myself inspired me to become the kind of therapist I wish I had. As a neurodivergent Asian American daughter of immigrant parents, I understand how complex it can be to balance family expectations, cultural values, and feeling “in between” worlds. I know how vulnerable it can feel to share your story, and I feel honored to witness my clients’ courage and growth. My hope is to create a space where you feel fully seen, deeply understood, and empowered to write the next chapter of your life on your own terms. 

What insurance(s) do you accept? 

I accept individuals and couples with OHP, Providence (individuals only), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Regence, and Kaiser 

What have you learned from your work / collaboration as a therapist working with individuals and communities?  

What I’ve learned from my time as a therapist is that people are incredibly resilient, even when they don’t always feel that way. I’ve seen how healing grows in safe, supportive relationships and how much it matters to have your story heard and valued. Working with multicultural communities, including children of immigrants and first-generation adults, has reminded me that therapy isn’t about fixing anyone; it’s about walking alongside people as they make sense of their experiences, connect with their strengths, and move toward a life that feels true to who they are. 

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De-Stigmatizing Mental Health in Hispanic Families: A Personal Perspective

The American Psychiatric Association reports that research shows that in Latine and Hispanic communities, the risk factors of acculturation stress and immigration are causing mental distress and an increase in mental health issues (APA, 2017). Overall, there is a lack of Spanish-speaking mental health care providers in the U.S., and there are disparities in the treatment and medication access between Latinx and Hispanic and white clients. (American Psychiatric Association, 2017). Research shows that low-income individuals and those living in poverty are more vulnerable to mental health conditions and mental illness, and that individuals with mental health disorders are more at risk of living in poverty. 

Kate Hernandez, a Professional Counseling Associate at Sakura Counseling, shared some of her story with me and spoke to the cultural stigma and experience as a first-generation Mexican American and daughter of a single mother who was undocumented while Hernandez was growing up.“You’re probably struggling and not even realizing it”; We discussed what it was like for Hernandez as a young person in the U.S. surrounded by her mother and family members in a Mexican family system where generational trauma informs culture, perspective, and mental health. “Very few Hispanic people have existed in a time where they were actually calm and present,” Hernandez continued, “Hispanic families don’t see it as trauma. In most Hispanic families, that’s how it’s been for a long time.”  

In Latine and Hispanic communities, cultural values such as ‘familismo, ‘confianza’ and ‘respeto’ nurture and anchor individuals and family systems in interconnectedness and mutuality. ‘Familismo’ describes a foundational value in the culture of Hispanic and Latine communities, which is the value of family, and ‘Personalismo’ describes the importance placed on relationships with others. These core values are cultural anchors, as often are religion, spirituality, and faith. As much as family, community, and faith are protective factors in these communities, there are also challenges to accessing mental health care, such as generational trauma, cultural stigma toward mental health, and systemic barriers, such as inequity and lack of access to care due to lack of access to education, language barriers, and/or fear of deportation. 

Hernandez became inspired to become a mental health provider after she began learning about the brain and mental health in a high school psychology class. Hernandez described the DSM-V as “a book that gave me answers” while she was learning about trauma and its symptoms and observing mental health challenges in her family for the first time. Hernandez began to see her friends of higher socioeconomic status through a new lens; “If they have it, why can’t we?” We discussed how mental health has looked in Latine and Hispanic communities, and how much need there is still today to de-stigmatize mental health.  

Studies show that Latin American and Hispanic adults are 50% less likely to receive mental health treatment (NAMI, 2025) despite 1 in 5 Latine adults living with a mental health illness (UnidosUS, 2024), the most common being post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety (NAMI, 2025). In 2020, the APA (Bailey; APA, 2025) stated that only 5.5% of mental health providers were able to provide services in Spanish, and only 4.4% of psychologists were Hispanic, even though Latine and Hispanic adults make up 17.6% of the U.S. population, and are expected to make up 30% of the total population by the year 2060 (APA, 2017).  

Professional Counselor Associate Hernandez described the very real stigma still existing in Latine and Hispanic communities today, and the “huge work in progress” that is currently underway in changing that. “Third generation and on are starting to make the change…it’s on us to break that, because we have access to education.” Hopefully, timely equitable pathways to educational and professional development opportunities will be created so that Latine and Hispanic elders and families will receive the culturally responsive mental health care they critically need and deserve. 

Sources 

American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Mental Health Disparities: Hispanics and Latinos. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Hispanic-Latino.pdf 

Bailey, D. (2020, Jan. 1). Answering the demand for services: Underserved communities are driving a heightened need for health-service psychologists. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/01/cover-trends-demand-services#:~:text=Cultural%20and%20language%20needs&text=%E2%80%9CIt’s%20crucial%20for%20psychologists%20to,she%20and%20other%20psychologists%20say 

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2025). Hispanic/Latinx. https://www.nami.org/your-journey/identity-and-cultural-dimensions/hispanic-latinx/ 

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2025). NAMI Compartiendo Esperanza: Mental Wellness in Hispanic/Latin American Community. https://www.nami.org/support-education/mental-health-education/nami-compartiendo-esperanza-mental-wellness-in-hispanic-latin-american-community/  

UnidosUS. (2024, March 23). Rompiendo Barrereas: Dismantling Barriers to Latino Mental Health Care. https://unidosus.org/blog/2024/03/23/rompiendo-barreras-dismantling-barriers-to-latino-mental-health-care/#:~:text=Despite%20many%20Latinos%20experiencing%20mental,8%25%20of%20the%20psychology%20workforce  

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Mental Health in Latine and Hispanic Communities 

This month is Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor and celebrate the strengths and contributions of Latine and Hispanic communities. Latine and Hispanic communities teach us the importance of collective care and relationships, and values such as confianza, (trust), and conciencia (developing personal awareness) (Bordas, 2023). These communities bring great gifts and strengths to U.S. society, meriting respect, gratitude, and attention. As reported by Mental Health America, “A mix of Indigenous and colonial heritage, Latine and Hispanic cultures vary greatly in regions across the U.S. People from Mexico and Puerto Rico make up the great majority of these populations. There are more than 20 different countries that make up these groups. They each have different cultures, beliefs, and experiences” (MHA, 2025).  

At this unprecedented time in U.S. history where the Trump administration is weaponizing the “us versus them” narrative (ACLU; Shah, 2021), re-organizing and militarizing various government agencies to carry out mass deportations, it is critical that we celebrate Latine and Hispanic individuals who have provided significant contributions to U.S. society. Immigrant communities make U.S. society stronger and wiser. According to recent Pew Research data, “thirty-three percent of U.S. immigrants are Latinx/Hispanic and 79 percent of Latinx/Hispanic people living in the U.S. are citizens.”  

There are too many to name, but some who have brought significant contributions are Sonia Sotomayer, the first Latina, and the third woman to be appointed judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, Bad Bunny, a contemporary artist representing the complex cultural identity, strength and joy of the Puerto Rican people, and Dolores Huerta, a legendary labor and leader of the Chicano civil rights movement (NWHM, 2025). Others whose legacies inspire many, are Paulo Freire, an educator and author who advocated for a liberatory form of education rooted in social justice, and Maria Lorena Ramírez Hernández, who won a 50-kilometer race while wearing her huaraches (sandals) and long skirt, the traditional dress worn by the Tarahumara, an Indigenous group who run long distance as a form of prayer (Preedy, 2021).  

Given the violence towards immigrants carried out by the current administration, and its violation of human rights and the U.S. Constitution, systemic harms are increasing, along with these concerns for the mental health and overall wellness of these populations. According to the organization UnidosUS, 17% of Hispanic/Latine people in the U.S. live in poverty (compared to 8.2% of non-Hispanic whites), and 50% of Latinos do not have access to paid sick leave at their jobs. Out of the Latine/Hispanic population, 17% live in poverty, and make up for 19% of the U.S. civilian labor force. 

Now more than ever, Latine and Hispanic communities need celebration and protection, as well as culturally humble (Khan, 2021) mental health support and human services professionals who understand the complexity and nuances of intersecting cultural identities and experiences (Lekas et al., 2020). Recent studies show that some of the issues facing these communities are poor communication and lack of access to care due to lack of Spanish-speaking providers and lack of access to insurance, and disparities in mental health treatment, including Latine and Hispanic young people being treated for ADHD and depression at half the rate of white youth (NAMI, 2025).  

Here below are some resources collected from Mental Health America (MHA) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to help guide and support mental health care providers in serving the Latine and Hispanic communities.  

Mental Health-Related Resources for Latinx and Hispanic Communities  

American Psychological Association-Immigration 
This website offers information for mental health providers and educators regarding the mental health needs of immigrants. 

American Psychiatric Association (APA) Stress & Trauma Toolkit  
Stress and trauma toolkit for treating undocumented immigrants in a changing political and social environment. 

APA – Como hablar con sus hijos/as de las elecciones en los Estados Unidos  
Educational resource in Spanish on how to speak with your children about the U.S presidential elections  

Immigrants Rising – Mental Health Connector  
A tool to connect with mental health professionals serving immigrant patients. 

Informed Immigrant 
This website offers multiple resources for Latinx, immigrants, DACA recipients and undocumented individuals. 

Mental Health America Screening and Informational Resources in Spanish 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 
Find contact information for mental health services for refugees. 

Sources 

American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Mental Health Disparities: Hispanics and Latinos. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Hispanic-Latino.pdf 

Bordas, J. 2023. The Power of Latino Leadership. Second Edition. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.  

Forcén FE, Vélez Flórez MC, Bido Medina R, Zambrano J, Pérez JH, Rodríguez AM, Santos LH.  

Deconstructing Cultural Aspects of Mental Health Care in Hispanic/Latinx People. Psychiatr Ann. 2023 Mar;53(3):127-132. doi: 10.3928/00485713-20230215-02. Epub 2023 Mar 1. PMID: 37781171; PMCID: PMC10540642. 

Harris DB, Roter DL. (2024). Profound Love and Dialogue: Paulo Freire and Liberation Education. Health Lit Res Pract. 2024 Jul;8(3):e118-e120. doi: 10.3928/24748307-20240613-02. Epub 2024 Jul 5. PMID: 38979815; PMCID: PMC11230641. 

Khan, S. (2021, Jan. 13). Cultural Humility vs. Cultural Competence — and Why Providers Need Both. Health City News. Boston Medical Center. https://healthcity.bmc.org/cultural-humility-vs-cultural-competence-providers-need-both/ 

Lekas HM, Pahl K, Fuller Lewis C. Rethinking Cultural Competence: Shifting to Cultural Humility. Health Serv Insights. 2020 Dec 20;13:1178632920970580. doi: 10.1177/1178632920970580. PMID: 33424230; PMCID: PMC7756036. 

Mental Health America. (2025). Latine and Hispanic mental health: Challenges, strengths, and heroes. https://mhanational.org/resources/latine-hispanic-mental-health-challenges-strengths-and-heroes/ 

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2025). Hispanic/Latinx. https://www.nami.org/your-journey/identity-and-cultural-dimensions/hispanic-latinx/ 

National Women’s History Museum. (2025). Dolores Huerta. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/dolores-huerta 

Neumeister, L. (2025, Sept. 16). Sotomayer urges better civic education so people know difference between presidents and kings. https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-sonia-sotomayor-b34d2a467aab1771aa5dbdca229c5928?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share 

Pew Research Center tabulations of the 2017 American Community Survey (1% IPUMS). https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/16/key-facts-about-u-s-hispanics/ 

Preedy, Michael (1 June 2021). “Book Review: Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health By Professor Daniel Lieberman”. Physiology News. doi:10.36866/122.12 

Renshaw, S. (2021, February 14). What is a Temazcal Ceremony? The Green Maya Project. https://www.greenmaya.mx/blog/2020/11/6/what-is-your-definition-of-church. 

SAMHSA. 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): Hispanics, Latino, or Spanish Origin of Descent. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt23249/4_Hispanic_2020_01_14_508.pdf 

Sanneh, K. (2025, Sept. 15). Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican Homecoming. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/09/22/debi-tirar-mas-fotos-bad-bunny-music-review 

Shah, Naureen. (2021). How Trump is Using the Alien Enemies Act to Deport Millions. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/anti-immigrant-extremists-want-to-use-this-226-year-old-law-to-implement-a-mass-deportation-program 

Unidos US. (2025). Statistics about the Latino Population. https://unidosus.org/facts/statistics-about-latinos-in-the-us-unidosus/